small partings of the problem. hello, everyone, thanks for joining us. we start tonight though with revelations about a man who could had been your president, and washington insiders say could had put the democratic party in political jeopardy. this week, john edwards former democratic presidential contender admitting to fathering a child out of wedlock after lying to everyone, the american public, about it. the lure details are released today in a book called "the politician." it is authored by edwards' longtime confident andrew young. had surplanted to young to claim that he was the baby's father. >> there wasn't a lot of time sit back and to contemplate, hey is this logical? was it logical, no. was it stupid, yes. did we do the right thing morally, no. absolutely not. >> let's bring in our cnn's mark

pressor. he's our editor here. he said that young was motivated by money but this is certainly explosive and imagine if edwards had been appointed to office or elected to office now it would be a huge fallout. >> it would be a huge fallout. you know something, young acknowledges that in fact he is motivated by the money. he said that in the book. he says that john edwards was going to take care of him financially. that john edwards' rich friends were going to take care of him financially for taking the fall for saying that he was the father of rielle hunter's daughter as well as everything else he had done as john edwards was pursuing the presidential campaign. however, he says, that john edwards pulled back and really left him hanging. so in part, he said, he's writhe the book for financial gain but also said he's trying to write the book to try to spell it out to his children, explain exactly what happened. >> but here's the interesting thing, too. also in the abc interview and in the book, you hear about

elizabeth edwards, who had cancer at the time during this alleged affair, which i guess i understand admitted to now, that she in some way knew about this and may have known about it more than the american public would have thought or more than they led onto at the time. >> and that's a sticking point because elizabeth edwards you know contends that she did not know all -- all about what was going on with john edwards and rielle hunter during the time he was seeing her in this extramarital affair. however in this book, andrew young says in fact she did know. and that he was the point person that set up these liaisons along the campaign trail while john edwards was out trying to gain support for that presidential bid. >> i want to read to you really quickly, mark, we're getting a statement in here, i'm just getting it here, from edwards' attorneys and here's what it says. this is from edwards' attorney says john edwards and his wife elizabeth have legally separated and john edwards lawyers said earlier reports about the book indicate that there are problems about young's accounts while

we've not had an opportunity to read the book we urge extreme caution by everyone involved. that's what his attorneys wrote. again as i said -- >> but here's the question and i said this to you at the top, what if this man had been? because not only was he a vice presidential contender, this affair took place after, but he also ran for president. then there was talk about him possibly being appointed to office or what have you. what mindset and i don't know if you can answer this would you have to have to believe that this would never come out, that you would have someone do this and get away with it? so unfolding to the american public this would had been some real, real trouble here. >> some real, real trouble and it's amazing that somebody would have that much gall to think that in fact that they could run for president, at the same time carrying on an affair. by reading this book and i am sure some reporters will look back covering him at the time and say boy things were a little bit strange on that campaign trail at the time but what was he thinking that, don, that in fact that he could get away with

it? you know something i was talking to democratic insiders when he came out and acknowledged having the affair some time ago. they were furious. they said who does he think he is? what if he had won the democratic nomination, he would have torn the party apart. what if president obama had picked him to be the vice president. >> that was my next question. has anyone in the obama administration said anything about this or even behind the scenes that they acknowledge this? because i imagine at the time, if they had gotten wind of this, they may have -- they were probably furious. >> well, who knows what they knew during the vetting process anyway when they were actually looking at who they wanted to put on the ticket. but i will tell you at that time talking to some advisers they were furious about john edwards. they said that he was selfish. they can't believe he would do that. you know at this point now, john edwards' political career is probably over. you know, i don't often say that in politics because you can always reinvent yourself, but let's assume that these allegations are true in this book, very damming. >> our political editor mark pressen. mark, thank you very much. mark, we know that you've been working on this all night.

you read the entire book, stood up and read it and wrote about it on cnn.com. make sure that you check out cnn.com, it's actually on our home page and it's one of the trending topics there and it's also the trending topic today, mark, you should know on twitter. a lot of people are talking about this. president barack obama facing critics head-on in person, and both sides are claiming victory today. . mr. obama attended a retreat to house republicans in baltimore. taking questions from some of his toughest critics for almost an hour and a half and it was all carried live right here on cnn. as a matter of fact, i was sitting here and tony harris as well anchoring and it was amazing to see this taking place in baltimore and the president standing there in front of his harshest critics and answering the questions. they talked about health care. they talked about the budget, the atmosphere in washington really was the top topic, talking about the mood there and the tone. it was mostly cordial. at times it was funny and in a few instances it was a little tense. take a look at how things went on.

>> i'm using this as a specific example. so let me answer your question. you asked a question, i want to answer it. there's got to be some test of realism in any of these proposals, mine included. i've got to hold myself accountable and i guarantee you the american people will hold themselves -- will hold me accountable. if what i'm selling doesn't actually deliver. >> your administration proposed a budget that would triple the national debt over the next ten years. surely you don't believe ten years from now we will still be mired in this recession and propose new entitlement spending and move the economy -- the cost of government to almost 24.5% of the economy. now very soon, mr. president, you are due to submit a new budget, and my question is -- >> jim, i know that there's a question in there somewhere because you're making a whole bunch of assertions half of which i disagree with and i'm having to sit here listening to them. at some point i know that that

you will let me answer them. when you say that suddenly i've got a monthly budget that is higher than the annual -- or a monthly deficit that's higher than the annual deficit led by republican, that's factually just not true. >> president obama took in one of his favorite pastimes, check that out. today in washington, it was a snowy washington, d.c. it's a college basketball game between georgetown and duke. he even sat down with tv broadcasting for a short time adding his own analysis for sports fans who were watching it at home and he also talked about meeting with those gop leaders government baltimore. and of course he's known for being a big basketball fan and he's playing at least a dozen pickup games with friends and members of his staff since becoming president. president barack obama at the game today and going down talking to commentators taking tough questions there. make sure that you join us in "the newsroom" 7:00 p.m.

eastern here. the u.s. military suspending medical flights out of haiti. i'll say it again, the u.s. military is suspending medical flights out of haiti. another big story here on cnn. we're going to tell you where it all comes down to an argument over money. and toyota says a fix is on the way for millions of recalled cars. we'll tell you when your dealership will get it. also, join our conversation tonight, twitter, facebook, myspace or i-report.com. i'm going on right now. go look at your comment, put some of them on the air.

it's always a good evening to spend inside if you are watching us but especially so in the eastern part of the country. stay inside. an icy blast is slamming much of the region. it's happening right now as we're on the air. virginia's seeing some of its worst yet. it's a foot of snow expected there. in d.c., officials are telling everyone to stay off the roads. the carolinas are under an icestorm warning until midnight. and governor beverly perdue has declared a state of emergency. in southeast missouri, it left quite a bit of mess behind. some parts of missouri got more than nine inches of snow. and further to the west, we want to look at oklahoma city. got a coating of ice. it was so bad, the airport had to shutdown for a while. i want to turn out to our meteorologist bonnie schneider. bonnie, the snow, at least didn't get a little bit of traction on it, the ice that's a major problem and of course, the loss of electricity. >> that's so true, don. because we do have strong winds

that have caused a lot of power outages and some places saw ice and snow on top of it, so when you started a shovel, you can't get in there because you have that layer of ice just below. our i-reporters have been on the scene. i to the show you one out of virginia beach and take a look at this and what you are looking at now is definitely some serious weather. we usually don't see this type of weather in the virginia beach area but what we're look ath now is an i-report and this shows some of the heavy accumulation of snow in the region. and it's so fascinating because it rarely snows in virginia beach. and right now, virginia beach is getting a combination of sleet, freezing rain and snow. some of the heavier snow's working its way up towards the washington, d.c., area right now. that's where we're seeing some of the heavier precipitation at that time. it will continue straight into the overnight period because we are still looking at the threat for wintry weather in/around washington, d.c. in fact, check this out. the winter weather advisories that you see here, these are actually going all the way until

4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. that means, on top of the several inches of snow on the ground, we're likely to see another one to two inches of snow. also keep in mind that temperatures are bitterly cold in this region. so it's advised to stay inside tonight. don't venture outside. look at the current number in washington, it's 18 degrees. it's 19 in richmond. not much warmer the further south you go into charlotte, north carolina, 26 degrees with snow and ice on the ground there. so it is going to stay cold. tomorrow's high temperature for this entire region will still be below freezing. it's not until monday, don, that we start to see a little bit of a warm-up. and maybe some melting, but it's going to be gradual, this cold air is sticking around. unfortunately, at least for the next few days. >> it wants to linger. and correct me if i am wrong, yesterday speaking to ted myers, the pink part is the ice and that's a dangerous that in we're looking right there on the map? >> yeah, definitely. whenever you see that sort of precipitation that's when you are really looking at some of the worst of the weather, don. and you can see the advisories

do call for that snow wintry mix straight into the evening hours. >> ah, boy, oh, boy. all right, thank you, bonnie schneider we'll check back. >> sure. developing news to tell you about, the u.s. military suspending medical flights out of haiti. we'll tell you why it all comes down to an argument. it's really over dollars and cents. who's going to pay for it? our susan candiotti joins us live in just a moment. just off of the phone with the white house with their reaction, she's going to explain to you next. (pouring rain) i had a great time. me too. you know, i just got out of a bad relatio...

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morning because my back hurt so bad.

some developing news just into cnn. fredricka whitfield reported this but a new development because u.s. military's suspended flights evacuating haitians out of haiti, the quake victims there. it boils down to dollars and cents, flights carrying the injured from haiti to miami. it ended on wednesday after florida governor charlie crist asked the federal government to help with the expense. cnn's susan candiotti following the story very closely. susan, the situation is dire. i understand you just got off the phone with the white house? >> reporter: yeah, it's kind of hard to understand all of this, don, because obviously i've been down to haiti. we've seen all of the pictures from there. the situation is very difficult to say the least. there are a lot of people in

need and there are only so many doctors to go around but here is what the white house is telling me. the white house said in a statement and this is from a spokesperson telling me that there is -- has been no policy decision by anyone to suspend evacuee flights. the situation arose, this spokesman says, as they started to run out of room. now, as you indicated, there are flights that had been going. many people have been flown out so far. the problem now, according to the military is that they can't take them out because in their words -- and we have a direct quote here from a spokesperson for the u.s. military, if we can show that to you now. they're telling us that they cannot fly people out if hospitals won't take them. and they said some states are apparently unwilling to allow entry for haitian nationals for critical care. so then we went back to florida and say, what is the problem? and the problem, according to florida governor charlie crist,

it's obviously expensive to take care of people in their hospital rooms, in the e.r. rooms and the trauma rooms and so they're turning to the federal government for help. but florida governor charlie crist denies that he said, don't send us anymore people. and here's what he said about it just today. >> they're not stopping coming into florida. i wrote a letter to secretary sebelius expressing that federal assistance would be helpful to us and if we could share that with some of our sister states it would make a big difference. obviously, because of florida's proximity to haiti, we'll really bourne the brunt of it but we're happy to continue. >> reporter: so, florida governor's crist is asking the federal government's, specifically health and human services to come up with more emergency funding, don. but fact of the matter is for now, no other haitians are allowed to go out right now. >> susan, ask you this for clarification because when i came to you in new york, i said that it was suspended. it had been suspended starting wednesday and your statement

from the white house says it hasn't been. so what's the truth here? what's happening? >> reporter: well, it's hard to figure all that out right now, don. >> okay. so i imagine you're -- >> reporter: but i guess at what white house is saying, we don't have a policy decision. no one has said to stop doing this. as for trying to work out logistics, with trying to come up with enough beds in the united states if they can, but if not, to try to work out getting more doctors on the ground there to expand the facilities on the "uss comfort," which is offshore. and to try to get more doctors in, more beds into haiti, if they can, to try to keep people there as best they can. >> all right, susan, hey, keep working on this because we need to get clarification about what exactly is happening because viewers want to know. there's a lot of interest in this story. as there should be. so lets us know if it is suspended, if it's not, who's telling the truth, the white house, governor, or governor charlie crist? susan candiotti, thank you very much for that. grants, not loan, would help

haiti rebuild debt-free there. this week two u.s. senators unconvailed a haiti reconstructive package. in it to help the country rebuild its infrastructure and its economy. one of our top ten cnn here nos 2008. he's the founder of a nonprofit organization called first response team of american. it is an ngo, if you want to know, if you want to donate. he's been in haiti about a week. he's joining us live now from port-au-prince. you're there to help with the rebuilding the reconstruction of haiti and especially around port-au-prince. since you've been on the ground, we spoke to you last weekend, you were about to go, what have you seen and what have you accomplished? >> well, don, from being on the ground, you know we've quickly realized, we're just on the brink of the rebuilding. there's still so many people. you have hundreds and thousands of folks who need food that need water that need temporary shelter that need to get into some safe, secure environment within the next six to nine months so actually our equipment is going to be used to help get aid into areas.

>> and i want to say, this is your equipment. we've got video, tad, of your equipment coming in. how did it get over there, and again, these are pictures, your equipment coming in, so once it got there, take us through what happened. >> well, don, once it's gotten here, we've taken it off of the barge. we've put it into a safe and secure area. we've decided that we're going to bring the equipment to a city called city saleh, where there's 200,000 people over a 70% of the people, were unemployed even before the quake hit. there's a need to get doctors in there and medical supplies and food and water and tents. we've identified a compound where there's a wall that has fallen. we're going to clear that area. use local workers to build a new wall and then an organization called samaritans first, is going to set up a medical facility there and bring in the emergency supplies that that community needs. >> so, tad, listen, you do disaster recovery. this is your thing. this is why we honored you as a hero here on cnn. just honestly, personally,

what -- when you saw the devastation there, what was your response? what do you think of this? and can it compare to any other disaster that you've seen? >> well, it can't compare to any disaster i've seen. the suffering can. i mean, obviously even what we saw in the states in katrina, suffering is suffering. when people are hurting and when people need help we've got to respond. we've got to help. but, yes, i'm sure, you know, you've heard it many times, this is just a catastrophic, devastating situation that we're dealing with here. the amount of people that are displaced, the amount of people that are in need of emergency care is -- it's almost hard to wrap your mind around it. >> yeah. having done this, give us -- i don't know if you can -- an assessment of how long you think it will take before it at least has some symbolance of normalcy. >> don, i would say, we could -- begin to see some normalcy within a year or two. but a real rebuilding, a real

reconstruction of the community would probably take about ten years. i'm so moved. everywhere i go i see so many young people, so many people on the streets trying to sell what they can. i see an interest in commerce, an interest in working hard. i would hope that in this rebuilding process that wouldn't just taken through the account, the rebuilding, the infrastructure and the sewage and the water, but take into account the commerce here. farm, biodiesel. tourism. i think that that should be part of the long-term process of rebuilding here. something towards sustainability for this people, because i'm really moved at the welcome we've received here and the wonderful people that we meet everywhere we go. >> hey, tad, that's why we -- you're a "cnn hero" a "cnn hero" of 2008. his organization is called first response team, again it's an ngo. look it up online. tad, please keep in touch with us and thank you for taking a moment to come because we know that you are very kbz. there tell you tonight 8:00 p.m.

eastern, right, tom, a special on the air tonight? 8:00 p.m. eastern. make sure that you join us here on cnn and also if you know an extraordinary person, someone like tad, a hero, you can nominate him or her by going to cnn.com/hero. click on the nominate tab. and while you are there, you can check out cnn's here ostweek. right here on cnn, a hero special hosted by our very own anderson cooper. if the obama administration has its way the pentagon will allow gays to serve openly in the military. former defense secretary william cohen will be our very special guest to discuss this controversial policy and whether or not it should be repealed or can be repealed. [ playing "mary had a little lamb" off-key ]

he sure is working up an appetite up there. bet you guys are, too. how about some hamburger helper? cheeseburger mac... how 'bout some after the show? hamburger helper. one pound. one pan. one tasty meal. hamburger helper. i was just in town for a few days, and i was wondering if i could say hi to the doctor. is he in? he's in copenhagen. oh, well, that's nice. but you can still see him! you just said he was in... copenhagen. come on! that's pretty far. doc, look who's in town. ellen! copenhagen? cool, right? vacation. but still seeing patients. oh. [ whispering ] workaholic. i heard that. she said it. i... [ female announcer ] the new office.

see it. live it. share it. on the human network. cisco. okay you want to pay close attention to this. we're talking about the state of our nation, but this is going to be a huge story in the coming weeks and months here in the united states. it's called -- it's nicknamed dadt, which is don't ask, don't tell. since 1993 it's been the official u.s. policy towards gays serving in the military. next tuesday the top two military leaders in the obama administration will go before congress to make the case that it is time to scrap the policy and let gays serve openly in the military. cnn's ted rowlands sat down with three gay active duty servicemembers. >> reporter: three active

members of the u.s. military, all gay, all possibly risking their careers talking to us. that's why we're not showing their face. an army sergeant with ten years of service who's done a tour in iraq, a female army mp who's been in for five years and has always been to iraq and a navy sailor who joined a year and a half ago. despite what's going in the world including two wars now is the time to change don't ask, don't tell and listen to what they say about living a lie. >> i am terrified that somebody in my chain of command is going to find out. there's always that pressure. >> i agree. it is a near constant thing because you're almost always putting up some sort of a front of a band of brothers that everybody talks about. i'm kind of that brother with the secret and yeah it does wear on you. >> why do this interview. >> well, this institution

doesn't mean you don't tell when it is broken. we're telling the voices. it's screwed up here. >> the best thing for the military and the best thing for this country for this to be repealed. >> reporter: why now? why do we need to deal with this problem now. >> it is a problem now. i think that our soldiers deserve to have their forerights. >> gay, lesbian, transgenders are in the military now. people know about it and the people who are against it who don't want to take a shower with -- with us, that stuff already happens. it's not going to change. >> do you find that people through the process of elimination figure you are gay? >> i've been aware of people who knew that i was gay. i never really felt like i was threatened. i never felt like i had to keep watching over my shoulder for, you know, the witch hunters to come after me with their forkes and pitchforks. >> i would say everybody in my

group where i work they all know that i am gay. if i can be open with them i would be able too trust them more and they would know that they could trust me because i trust them with something so you know important. >> would you all come out right away if don't ask don't tell was lifted? >> i wouldn't go up to everybody saying, hey, i'm guy. but you know the people who were prese important to me will know. i will not hang a rainbow in my office but i will definitely have a coming-out-party. >> all were surprised that the president mentioned the don't ask, don't tell in his state of union address. they hope that leads it a change so that they can stop listen a live. ted rowlands, cnn, los angeles. >> all right it is certainly a very interesting story so right away to william comen he dealt directly with this controversial policy as defense secretary under president bill clinton. today he's a chairman and ceo of the cohen group, which represents defense contracts. he joins us from washington. good to see you. >> good to see you, don.

>> so you heard the two servicemachines theservic servicemembers there, the gentlemen there, this is already happening, already showering with people, everyone knows so what is the big deal? is that so? and is that a, an argument to repeal, don't ask, don't tell. >> well, i suspect what they say -- or have said is true. the lead-into the story was that these three people wererificing their careers by going on television, therefore, you had to camouflage their identities. the reality is they're risking their lives every day to serve this country and that's something we have to come to grips with. this is why i think the president said it is time after 17 years to review the policy and repeal it if it can be done. so i think the time issue is not one that's really the disposited case. we have two war, that's true but when the policy was adopted there were no two wars going on at that time. it was relatively calm in terms of the international scene as far as the united states, and

yet the issue has always brng it's not time yet. the time has come to look at it and say that people should be able to serve honorably. the key issue should be capability and the key issue should be conduct. how have they conducted themselves? are they conducting themselves as men and women who were patriotic, dedicated and carrying out their mission. that's the test. >> you are saying it shouldn't be about -- sexuality should be whether you can do the job just as in private in everyday life and in everyday companies, jobs? >> we should try to eliminate discrimination whenever we can. if you went back and looked at how discriminatory policies have evolved over the years. back to the time when blacks in this country were segregated and said, well, it would disrupt unit cohesion if they were allowed to be integrated or we couldn't have women in combat aircraft. that didn't take place until 1994, when the first woman was able to fly at a combat aircraft. talk to tommy duckworth now to see whether or not women are

capable of flying combat aircraft. i think what's great about our country is we're able to evolve, we're able to look at a situation, say, you know, there are some inequities here. we can deal with this. we can implement regulations, we can control conduct, and if people are not measuring up to those conduct standards, they can be dismissed but the notion that someone can be gay in the military and not anyone know it, you can sacrifice or she can sacrifice their lives but if they say they're gay and then they're out, i think that's a policy which needs to be reviewed and i would advocate to be repealed. >> ask you quickly, did you at the time when you were working with clinton administration, was this your stance? did you believe this then? >> well, we had just passed the don't ask, don't tell rule when i was in the senate, as a matter of fact. and that was the testimony at the time. and i supported the rule at the time. and so it really didn't become a major issue when i got to the pentagon because it had been

relatively new. >> so you think that now we've evolved beyond that and you feel that it should be repealed? >> well, i think that there is new -- i think that society itself has evolved. you had the former chairman of the joints chiefs call for a review and i would suggest a revision some years ago. >> hey, hey real quickly, i have a very short amount of time. do you know ike skelton who is a democrat and worked with you 17 years ago and said don't do it, don't repeal it, it would be detrimental. >> my partner, my friend john mccain feels the same way. i think brought before the congress and have a full airing of the utsu and be rewould have you. >> i have to go. do you think that it'll be revealr repe repealed, a yes or no. >> i don't know. we'll have to wait and see. >> i want to move on, i want to change you the topic and ask you the obama administration announced for an arms package for taiwan and that move has china outraged, leaders in beijing announced china was suspending military and security contracts with the u.s. and will impose sanctions.

so what do you make of this? >> well, it's an age-old problem that we have in dealing with china. we have two policies. one, a 1a china policy. that means we are committed to helping taiwan to defend itself by supplying them with equipment they need. the real answer is for china not to pose a military threat to taiwan. they are evolving. they are getting together. i think they'll be a peaceful reconciliation between the mainland and taiwan. it's happening already and so this is an unnecessary confrontation. the easiest thing to do would be for china to pullback it's median-range ballistic missile, stop pointing so many at taiwan and then you won't have the necessity that taiwan is requesting that congress would be providing for them. it's easier, i think it's an emotional issue but one that can be resolved without confrontation. >> secretary william cohen, thank you, sir. >> great to be with you. toyota owners, i want you to listen up here. the carmaker has some contrite

words and now parts that you'll want to know about, and we'll hear the best-known song that was sung at the obama inauguration. now the son of an american diva says she is sick, big-time. just because they're inside you doesn't mean they're protected. oh, ladies. let's say you have osteoporosis. i do. you could be losing bone strength. can i get it back? (announcer) ask your doctor how to help treat osteoporosis with once-a-month actonel. actonel is clinically proven to help reverse bone loss and can help@i increase bone strength to help prevent fractures. so you can get back some of what you lost. do not take actonel if you have low blood calcium, severe kidney disease, or cannot sit or stand for 30 minutes. follow all dosing instructions. stop taking actonel and tell your doctor if you experience difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain or severe or continuing heartburn. these may be signs of serious upper digestive problems. promptly tell your doctor if you develop severe bone, joint or muscle pain, or if you develop dental problems, as serious jawbone problems have been reported rarely.

to get a free trial offer of once-a-month actonel visit actonel.com. and ask your doctor how once-a-month-actonel can help you reverse bone loss. i want to update you now on some of our top stories. if you own one of those millions of recalled toyotas, your fix is on the way. a toyota spokesman tells cnn that the company has met with federal regulators to talk over

a repair plan. now the company has to replace millions of sticking gas pedals. toyota is planning an announcement soon. but wouldn't give a time line of when the fix will be ready. meantime, toyota's president has apologized for the whole mess, telling customers "we're extremely sorry." rival automaker honda has some problems of its own tonight. the company is recalling 141,000 of its fit cars right here in the u.s. some of the 2007 and 2008 models have faulty power windows. they have switches that could pose a fire hazard. singer etta james is seriously ill with a staph infection. that is according to her son. she's been in a los angeles hospital since last week with mrsa, mrsa, it's an infection resistant to antibiotics. the 72-year-old singer was diagnosed with alzheimer's disease last year. she's best known for her 1961 hit "at least," which was sung at president obama's inaugural

ball. imagine watching the state of the union address and hearing the president mention you. it actually happened to a philadelphia man and we're going to talk to him. wait till you hear his story. and a lot of people are sporting these shirts around new orleans. but the nfl really doesn't care for the fashion statement. who nd

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all right, so this week during the state of the union address, president barack obama boasted a bit about his stimulus plan, and he had this to say. take a listen. >> i talked to the window manufacturer in philadelphia, who said he used to be skeptical about the recovery act until he had to add two more work shifts just because of the business it created. >> we know we have had our stimulus project all week long here on cnn and our stimulus desk so we decided that we will track down this window manufacturer. here's his name, alan levin, and i got the chance to talk to him right after that speech the day after. take a listen. >> so, alan, it must had been pretty exciting hearing the president mention you? >> it was truly amazing. we were completely excited, overjoyed, giddy, everything. >> you know what, here's the interesting thing, you were

skeptical about this process, about the stimulus, you were not sure it would get to the right people and help at all, and now? >> i'm a believer. we were very skeptical that we were mortgaging the future burks we've seen the benefits by the job hirings and we see the people, the families that we're feeding. >> yeah. so if this stimulus had not been given out, if you had not received this stimulus, i should say, where would your business, where do you think that your business would be now? >> we'd be struggling like the rest the industry was before. the industry was off 30% before the stimulus act. >> uh-huh. and how was your business before the stimulus act? >> we were fighting to keep down 10%. >> get your cost and everything down 10%. you had 180 -- is it 185 employees last year, right? >> correct. >> and now? >> 285. >> so you've added 100 employees in just one year. how much does that -- how much of that can be attributed to the stimulus? >> i'd say a large part of it.

i would say the majority. >> yeah. and also it's not just the stimulus. you've added 100 employees. you're doing much better now but you've said because of the tax credits that may have helped more than just getting the stimulus money to repair windows in philadelphia housing. >> correct. they put in that 3030 act which was a.30 and a solar heat blow .30 and homeowner to get up to a $1,500 tax credit if they put in a high-energy efficient window. >> and so how much business have you gotten from that. >> we're up over 30% this year. >> ah that's really good. listen you have a 15-year-old daughter named sydney. 15-year-old son austin. wife fran. high school sweetheart you met at 15 years old. she helps in the business as well. you were really sort of -- you epitomize america, right, with owning your own business, the american dream. so if you can explain to our viewers in a way that they can relate, if you're a business out

there struggling about the stimulus money, i would imagine your message would be, there's hope? i'm not sure, i don't want to put words into your mouth. >> no, absolutely. it's truly the american dream. my business, father started back in 1975 and with perseverance, quality products and service, if you keep fighting you know it does pay off. >> yeah. anything else you want to say to the people of america who may be watching, your family members who've helped you throughout all of this, and maybe for the president for mentioning you in his speech. >> keep buying energy efficient products and lower your, in costs. >> all right, so listen, not is it only talking about housing and urban development but it's also about clean energy, green energy, saving energy and money. so you know you are hitting a whole lot of points here. alan, we really appreciate it. best of luck to you, okay? >> thank you, don. >> great guy. nice family. thank you so much for that interview, alan. you know the bestfoods to keep your heart healthy, do you know what they are? our dr. sanjay gupta offers up a

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there are a whole lot of claims out there about foods that are good for our heart.

our dr. sanjay gupta is here to separate fact from fiction. >> reporter: time to cut through all of the clutter about what's really good for your heart. the biggest key, says registered dietician page love, is reducing the levels of inflam atory compounds in your body. >> inflammation is your body's response when disease is cultivating and often there are foods that can actually help do the opposite of that in the body. >> reporter: so, what are these super foods? >> eating red really helps to decrease inflammation. for example, cherries. particularly tart cherries, red grapes, tomatoes. >> reporter: blueberries and strawberries also top the list, as do leafy greens like spinach. even oatmeal. >> there's quite a bit of evidence showing that the fibber in oatmeals helps lower cholesterol. one of those key fighting foods. >> reporter: try nuts. >> a good source of protein vegetable fat source. >> reporter: avocados are also

healthy unsaturated fats that can help boost oily cholesterol. solomon are good in loweringeve favorite, chocolate. >> the cocoa is full of compounds call eed flavonols an produce a lot of benefits, relaxing blood vessels, reducing blood clotting, improving blood flow. >> reporter: okay, but despite the benefits of chowing down on chocolate -- >> key sweets or extra foods to about 10% of your calories per day. >> reporter: here's to your heart health. dr. sanjay gupta, cnn reporting. >> all right, sanjay. "the situation room" with mr. wolf blitzer straight ahead. what do you have for us? >> don, coming up at the top of the hour, we'll do something very special. it was an extraordinary meeting on friday, the president met with republican house members in baltimore, television cameras were allowed inside. the president had some tough

exchanges with republican congressmen. we're going to play it for you. it was a rare moment, you'll see it all right here in "the situation room." that's coming up in a few moments. don, back to you. >> we'll be watching. thank you very much, wolf. you know, it is something new orleans saints have been chanting for years and really many people in new orleans have been chanting for a long, long time. who dat, right? they're at the center of a legal fight now. those words, we'll tell you about that, what's going on. ring ring ring ring progresso. hi. we love your weight watchers endorsed soups but my husband looks the way he did 20 years ago. well that's great. you haven't seen him... my other can is ringing. progresso. hey can you tell my wife to relax and enjoy the view? (announcer) progresso. you gotta taste this soup.

that's from 1980. that's the original who dat video. it is written by steve monasteer. there is aaron neville performing. this is courtesy of youtube. this is a huge controversy in louisiana. it has gotten to the nfl. who dat is something that new orleans saints fans have been chanting for years. and with the saints headed to the super bowl, it is popping up on lots of t-shirts, right? so the nfl, the national football league, not amused by this, telling retailers to stop selling the shirts. but a spokesman denies the nfl is trying to stop people from

using the phrase who dat. he says, quote, we are not seeking to exclude all uses of who dat on merchandise. but in connection with the saints, we do have to protect the rights of licensees with prior authorization to produce merchandise with the logo. he went on to say who dat on a green or white t-shirt by itself is not an issue for us. but the inclusion of the saints helmet, logo or colors becomes an issue. and we do not -- do we have to say this whole statement? anyway, they are basically saying as long as it is not on the black and gold shirt, rick horrow, help me out here, who owns this? >> who dat going to own that shirt, right? the bottom line of it all is that it is pretty complicated legal theory. it is based on common sense. if it is in the public domain, then, you know, nobody can all of a sudden say we own it, we'll charge for it. and if it is not, it is okay. so it is probably a negotiated settlement with who dat not being owned by the nfl. but the saints likeness being

owned by the nfl. so then they have to change the pattern of the shirt. however, it is in this political environment, maybe there is a compromise where the shirt is there and the money has been given to charity. the nfl is pretty strong on certain things. even with churches televising the super bowl at big parties to raise money, they didn't allow that a few years ago. >> i can understand the restriction and they want to, you know, sort of keep it in their realm and protect the rights or whatever. but the nfl, and this is just for someone growing up there, the nfl did not start who dat. and the saints didn't start it either. that was started back in the '60s and the '70s, southern jaguars, in baton rouge, another university, baton rouge, southern in baton rouge and lsu in baton rouge. people add the southern jaguar games would start to say who dat and it caught on at lsu and then with the saint and caught on in other places. and there is also -- in new orleans as well, an african-american high school, it started there as well.

the saints don't really own it either. i think it is owned by the people. if anyone it is the southern jaguars or the boys who were at st. aug high school. >> don lemon giving us unique historical perspective of his boyhood home. the point is i don't think there is terms on who owns who dat. there is terms on using the saints likeness in the same shirt. and, frankly, look, the nfl feels really strongly about katrina relief. the drew brees foundation, peyton manning from there, i think there is controversy that is well founded, but over very quickly is my point. >> it is also millions of dollars probably in merchandising dollars. but one person who, you know, may agree with that, it is owned by the people is david vidor who is, you know, has strong words. take a listen. >> i am personally printing who dat shirts and i'm going to make them widely commercially available. so if they're going to start suing people, they need to put me on the list. >> so there you go. that's how people in louisiana

feel because they feel that they own that. rick horrow, again, as i said, probably the nfl and the team because we're talking about millions and millions of dollars of merchandising and it is, you know, there is a controversy in a time when it is a good thing for the city, that the saint are going to the super bowl, and it is a really good time for the saint as well. >> kudos to senator vitter and the nfl. i think this will be worked out and we'll see what happens when we go to the super bowl next week and i'll see you tomorrow. >> who dat talking about beating the saints? who dat. we have someone from new orleans dancing in the studio now. can you get her on camera? who dat talking about beating them saints? who dat? who dat? you're from new orleans, right? >> yeah. >> we're back with your comments in just a moment.

time to read some of your comments and we have been so busy, i didn't have a chance to go through a lot of them. a lot of people weighing in on who dat. don 11 says if you look at trademark law, the nfl is required to aggressively protect their trademarks. here's what dvcaz says, don't ask, don't tell, needs to be ended. any american willing to risk their lives for this nation deserves everyone's respect. let's go down and see another one. here from soph mom, dadt isn't the same as living a lie, it is living a lie. not the same. it is living a lie. edward's story explosive, watched twice last night. don't care what his attorney says. seems mostly credible. tiger can go home now. all right. and more on and